The average rent for a 1 bedroom apartment in Santa Barbara is $3,790, while the average rent for a 2 bedroom apartment is $5,019. Rent rates updated 2 days ago

Studio

$3,298

1 Bed

$3,790

2 Beds

$5,019

3+ Beds

$31,500

* Averages are based on the rental prices of properties listed on Apartment List

Top neighborhoods in Santa Barbara

Hope Ranch Bridle Trails

What it’s like to live in Hope Ranch Bridle Trails

Equestrian estates demand 2+ acre lots with private trail access. Grocery runs to La Cumbre Plaza take 25 minutes - Tesla charging essential. Guard gates mute coastal highway noise but add $1k+/month security fees.

Great for

Families

Retirees

Professionals

Young Renters

Commuters

Neighborhood vibe

Mixed-Use

Peaceful

Mixed-Use & Commercial

Eastside

What it’s like to live in Eastside

Hispanic heritage enriches Eastside Santa Barbara, where colorful Spanish Colonial buildings and historic adobes create distinctive architectural character. Residents enjoy Ortega Park's community gatherings and the vibrant Milpas Street corridor with its authentic taquerias and mercados. Though tourist attention focuses on downtown, locals appreciate the neighborhood's unpretentious character and mountain views framing the eastern edge. The area's walkability to both beaches and downtown creates car-optional living rare in Southern California, while the established date palms and citrus trees connect to the region's agricultural history.

Great for

Families

Retirees

Professionals

Young Renters

Commuters

Neighborhood vibe

Mixed-Use

Peaceful

Mixed-Use & Commercial

Oak Park

What it’s like to live in Oak Park

Oak Park surrounds its namesake green space in this family-friendly Santa Barbara neighborhood. Rental options include Spanish-style homes and smaller apartment buildings throughout this predominantly residential area. The neighborhood provides excellent access to both Highway 101 connections and Oak Park itself with its playground and recreation facilities, creating an ideal environment for families seeking outdoor space within Santa Barbara's competitive rental market.

Great for

Families

Retirees

Dog Owners

Outdoor Enthusiasts

Commuters

Neighborhood vibe

Suburban

Green Spaces

Family-Friendly

Neighborhoods

More Rental Options

Bedrooms

1 Bedroom Apartments in Santa Barbara (12)

Amenities

Find an apartment for rent in Santa Barbara, CA

Searching for an apartment for rent in Santa Barbara, CA? Look no further! Apartment List will help you find a perfect apartment near you. There are 68 available rental units listed on Apartment List in Santa Barbara. Click on listings to see photos, floorplans, amenities, prices and availability, and much more!

The average rent in Santa Barbara is $3,298 for a studio, $3,790 for a one-bedroom apartment, and $5,019 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you are looking for a deal, keep an eye out for a red pulsing icon that indicates rent specials.

Tired of browsing? Take our personalized quiz. You’ll answer a couple of simple questions and we’ll put together a list of Santa Barbara apartments that are best for you. We’ll also factor in your commute, budget, and preferred amenities. Looking for a pet-friendly rental, or an apartment with in-unit washer and dryer? No problem, we’ll provide you with apartments that match that criteria.

You can trust Apartment List to help you find your next Santa Barbara, CA apartment rental! After all, everyone deserves a home they love.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In Santa Barbara, the average rent is $3,298 for a studio, $3,790 for a 1-bedroom, $5,019 for a 2-bedroom, and $31,500 for a 3-bedroom.

You can use the pet-friendly filter to find Santa Barbara apartments that allow pets.

The answer to this question depends on your household income and a couple of other factors. You can use our Rent Calculator to figure out how much you should spend on rent in Santa Barbara.

You can use the off-campus housing filters to find apartments near colleges located in or around Santa Barbara. Some of the colleges and universities in the area include California State University-Bakersfield, Ventura College, Allan Hancock College, University of California-Santa Barbara, Bakersfield College, and Oxnard College.

Santa Barbara, California

So, you're moving to Santa Barbara. I hope you like beaches, laid back vibes, mountains and beautiful scenery. Santa Barbara is a popular destination for surfers, and anyone who likes a good time. Now, let's find you an apartment so you can start enjoying your new city!

What to Expect

Santa Barbara proper is snuggled against the coast by the beautiful Santa Ynez Mountains. Outside of town, deep into these mountains, lies Los Padres National Forest, a nearly two million acre park that provides Santa Barbara residents with numerous opportunities for hiking and recreational activities.

Okay, so maybe you're not a nature fan. That's okay! There are plenty of other things for you to do in your new town. Santa Barbara, frequently called the "American Riviera," draws in millions of tourists year round. Santa Barbara has a great nightlife scene, world-class restaurants and nightclubs, and unbeatable shopping.

Neighborhoods

The Riviera The Riviera is no misnomer. Winding hillside roads prevail in this beautiful, secluded area with great ocean views. The sprawling neighborhood overlooks the downtown scene and boasts gorgeous architectural feats.

East/West/Up/Down State Street, one of the main thoroughfares in town, and Highway-101 create the boundaries for four of Santa Barbara's most populated neighborhoods: the Eastside, East Beach, the Westside, and West Beach. As their names suggest, the first two fall to the east of State Street, while the latter fall to the west. The 101 bisects the town, separating the West Side from West Beach, and the East Side from East Beach. West Beach and East Beach, neighborhoods situated just minutes from the shore, boast gorgeous Spanish-style houses and apartments.

The Mesa The Mesa is located southwest of the downtown, close to the beach. Dwellings in this neighborhood vary from charming houses to drafty apartments to sprawling mansions.

San Roque/Foothills Nice areas that are further away from the beach.

Unincorporated and Far-flung In addition to rentals within city limits, Santa Barbara's surrounding metropolis also has a large amount of housing available.One neighborhood in Santa Barbara is the developing and recently incorporated area of Goleta. This area, nestled between downtown Santa Barbara and Isla Vista, is full of streets with a number of rental properties. Just to the west of Goleta is Isla Vista.

Rental Tips

Though deposits vary based on rental type, you will generally pay at least one month's deposit; some rental agencies charge up to 10% of your yearly rent. This is in addition to application fees that generally range from $35-50.

Most apartments in town can be found without the help of a real estate agent, however, property management companies frequently have multiple available rentals within certain neighborhoods. Once you've found your dream neighborhood, you can go through the same management company to find the right apartment for you.

Getting Around

While rush hour may not be as bad in Santa Barbara as it is in Los Angeles County, getting to and from the downtown in the mornings and evenings can be a headache. Traffic on the main streets of town as well as on Highway 101 can make for a slow-going commute.

Santa Barbara MTD provides several local bus routes throughout the city, a well as into neighboring Isla Vista and Goleta. Additionally, express buses operate into and out of downtown during weekday rush hour.

Recent developments have been made by the city to facilitate easier and safer bike paths, and the effort has not gone unnoticed. Santa Barbarians can been seen biking to and from their destinations any time of day.

So welcome to Santa Barbara! Whether you're here for partying, surfing or, I guess, your job, you'll be sure to enjoy the fun, mellow, sun-kissed vibe.

Apartments for Rent in Santa Barbara, CA

Patterson Place

Rancho Franciscan Senior Apartments

Sumida Gardens